The Famous Chocolatier Is Back

In Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, pink lamb fluff becomes cotton candy. What a wonderful factory it is.

Some things are just meant to go together: Steak and potatoes. Oreos and milk. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I had been anxiously anticipating “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” since I first heard that Burton was remaking Roald Dahl's classic. And the mouthwatering wait was worth it.

First things first - I adore Gene Wilder and think his performance as Willy was charming and delightful. It surprises me that the first Wonka movie flopped at the box office. But Mel Brooks' The Producers flopped too, and I consider Wilder's role in that movie one of the greatest comedic performances ever.

While Depp’s take on Wonka is enchanting in its own way, his approach is creepier, right down to the purple latex gloves. The draping coat and heeled boots may make one think he is the confectioner formerly known as the artist formerly known as Prince. He walks a bittersweet line between naughty and nice. A touch less extreme than the Grinch who stole Christmas, his iciness eventually melts like M&M's in your mouth (and not in your hand*). Looking at the two Wonkas is a bit apples-to-oranges, and I'm not one for snarky Hollywood comparisons. Both Wonkas are fabulous.

Gene Wilder may always win my vote, but I think the second movie is better. It has been given plenty of mediocre reviews. I give it two thumbs up. Wonka is dark, like my favorite chocolate. Charlie Bucket is so innocent and sweet, and his grandpa Joe is perhaps the most adorable old man in the world.** The set is eye candy (tee hee) in a way only Tim Burton could conjure up. And oh how those Oompa Loompas can bust out a song and dance number.

My two cents: This movie is highly entertaining. Go to the candy store, buy some chocolate treats, and get your (golden) ticket today.

*Actually, summers in the City are more humid than Loompa Land. Eat M&M's in this town, and I guarantee your hand will be more colorful than a Kandinsky painting.

**With the exception of my grandpa Woodrow L. Berta.

The Fine Art of Barefoot Running

Runners of the world, slow down and read me. Does your achilles' tendon ache? Do your heels hurt? What about your knee? Maybe just your knee cap? I recently read a Times article about running that got my mind racing. The best part was the opening paragraph:

"UNTIL he met a reclusive tribe of near-mythical athletes at the bottom of a Mexican canyon, Micah True could never figure out why his running injuries got worse as his running shoes got better. Then, the Tarahumara Indians taught him a lesson that even Nike is now starting to embrace: the best shoe may be no shoe at all." (The New York Times "Kick Off Your Shoes and Run Awhile," Christopher McDougall - June 23, 2005)

The article asked why - with all the technological advancements in running shoes over the past 30 years - have we not seen a decrease in running injuries? In a nutshell, the argument is that fancy shmancy sneakers have made our feet lazy. Legs absorb shock better than heels do, and the mega cushioning in running shoes tend to restrict the movement of our feet, sometimes putting unneeded weight on our heels. Barefoot runners, on the other hand, have much stronger, more flexible feet, and pressure is distributed more evenly when running.

The proof is in the pudding. In this case, the pudding is of the rubber tire variety (I prefer tapioca). Mr. True, who I referenced in the opening paragraph, had been plagued by injuries while training for ultramarathons. On one of his ridiculously long races, he met some swift runners from Mexico, who frequently placed in the top rankings. These speedsters wore homemade huaraches made from strips of old tires. Their feet? Injury free and fast as hell. They taught him to "run lightly on the front of his foot instead of heavily on his heel. " And it worked.

I may revert back to wearing my sprinting shoes whenever I run. They're ultra flexible and have far less cushioning than my cross-training shoes. If you don't have sprinting shoes, I suggest you do the next best thing: Chop up an old tire and strap it onto your feet. Three, two, one...go!